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MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
ORGANISATION
On 1st April, 1965, responsibility for Local Health Authority
Services under the Mental Health Act, 1959, previously operated by
Surrey County Council, passed to this London Borough. The dayto-day
organisation of these services is the concern of the Mental
Health and Social Work Section of the Department. A Senior Medical
Officer and a Senior Mental Welfare Officer have been appointed
to this Section.
The arrangements under which persons may be admitted to hospital
under the procedures laid down for compulsory admission under
the Mental Health Act, are operated by Mental Welfare Officers acting
as Statutory Officers under the Act. The Mental Welfare Officers also
assist general practitioners in arranging informal admission of patients
to Mental Hospitals. Where compulsory powers of admission are used,
the decision whether to take action or not, in any particular case, is
solely that of the Mental Welfare Officers concerned, who may thus
be regarded, on occasions, as the trustees of the patient's liberty.
The Department was doubly fortunate in being able to appoint as
Senior Mental Welfare Officer a well qualified and experienced Social
Worker, and also in retaining the services of two former Surrey Mental
Welfare Officers who operated in this area prior to the re-organisation.
They brought with them a wealth of experience, local knowledge,
and goodwill. One of these two Officers became the Deputy Senior
Mental Welfare Officer.
STAFF
At 31st December, 1965, the staff position was:—
1 Senior Medical Officer.
1 Senior Mental Welfare Officer.
1 Deputy Senior Mental Welfare Officer.
3 Mental Welfare Officers.
1 Mental Health Social Worker.
In addition, during the year, the Authority was fortunate in obtaining
the services, in a part-time capacity, of Dr. R. K. Freudenberg,
the Physician-Superintendent of Netherne Hospital as Consultant
Psychiatrist to advise the Authority on aspects of the Mental Health
Services.
MENTAL HEALTH ESTABLISHMENTS
The Authority operates a Junior Training Centre which provides
75 places (12 of which were temporarily in use as a Special Care
Unit pending the building of the proposed Special Care Unit by the
Mitcham Round Table), 32 places being taken by Merton children,
and 43 by Sutton children. In addition 13 places are filled by Merton
children at the Intermediate Centre (for children aged 13 to 16 years)
in the London Borough of Sutton.
The Authority provides transport for the conveyance of Merton
children to and from these Centres.
The Authority's provision for adult training of subnormal patients
over the age of 16 years is by arrangement with Surrey County Council
under which 36 places are available at Surrey's Adult Training Centre
at Banstead.
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